The Black Garden

"Black Taro" Elegant polished, blackish purple leaves form handsome specimens; produces clusters of large ivory hood shaped spathes protecting the 8"+ spadix. Very popular addition to the bog garden; trendy color for the urn fancier--especially those designing "Black Gardens." Not to be confused with the smaller, non-g...

Very tiny elaborately lobed mahogany maroon leaves tightly packed on muchbranched short toppling stems. Intensifies the similarly statured 'Purple Duckfoot,' 'Charlie McCarthy,' & 'India Frills' when planted as a group. From Cantigny Gardens in Wheaton, Il. The touchstone by which any new mini must be evaluated. Consta...

The darkest of all the so-called black coleus we sell. Blackish purple wide leaves closely spaced on self branching ebony-violet stems. For the "Black Garden"; very flat foliage with only slight ruffling. Deservedly popular despite its somewhat squat slow growing nature. Not as tall nor as vigorous as the ruffly 'Othel...

(The correct original name is C. jenkensii 'Uahiapele') The solidly dusky deep purple leaved taro creating a sensation in the garden & conservatory alike; also sold as 'Cranberry,' & 'Black Magic.' Very happy as a semi-aquatic--will maintain foliage readily in the warm winter greenhouse as long as it is given c...

Distinctive Ivy with beautiful black-green glossy elongate (often rather hastate) leaves. Very popular with serious plant collectors with a more botanic than horticultural bend. Native to limestone cliffs of the Caspian forests in Asia--but definitely not winter hardy in our part of the Ohio River Valley. We offer this...

"Black Gold" Elongated heart-shaped leaves of dark velvet with a lovely coppery sheen and delicate ivory veins. Probably same as P. melanochrysum. Thrives in high humidity and low light. This is one of the true beauties of the philodendron world. Not a houseplant unless grown in a wardian case.

One of the most sought after of the Bamboo cultivars, this is not totally hardy in the North, but after a cool spell always darkens into a great looking plant. We grow this outside here, but it can be containerized easily and make a successful indoor container subject.

Very wide laquered maroon oval wide leaf pairs. Rare form which is the most dramatic of this showy group of Acanthus relatives; recently rediscovered by outdoor designers for the "Tropical Look" as its color saturation in full sun matches the skin of a ripe eggplant. Although we have offered this for thirty some years,...

"Purple Sugar Cane" from Polynesia makes a dramatic pot plant with long elegant purple leaves ranked on the woody segmented maroon canes--long a premire favorite for collectors with a greenhouse desiring the visual design effect of this stunning "Black Magic Repellent Plant." This is best known as Saccharum 'Pele's Smo...

Very slow growing "Ebony Hemp" Rough surface of blackish-green. Very distinctive rugose surfaced extremely vertical foliage makes this a curosity in any collection. Ken Frieling found this unique curiosity in a random heap in a central Florida roadside nursery too many years ago for him to admit the date. If anyone has...

Remarkable erect tulip-shaped rosette of black-green leaves with bright gold rim. Habit similar to nelsonii or to a giant incurved 'Loops's Pride' but more ornate than either of these. Unique very slow growing treasure from Ruth Crane's remarkable collection.

"Jade Birdsnest Plant" One of the most distinctive of the Hahni group as the foliage displays no markings or chevrons on the gorgeous deep jade surfaced thick substanced leaves of deep mahogany green-- the somewhat sheened pointed leaves thickly overlap to form tight upright cups.

Glasshouse Works

The Glasshouse Works greenhouses is a mailorder nursery specializing in rare and exotic hardy and tropical plants from around the world. We are your source for plants both traditional and unusual. Variegated plants are our specialty.